Broccoli's Been Around For A While

Answer Lady

April 11, 1990|By JILL POPISH KEECH Columnist

Q: With all the publicity about broccoli and President Bush saying his mother made him eat it as a child, a question has been raised in my mind. I do not recall that broccoli was popular when the president was a child; it seems to me it only came on the national scene about 25 years ago. My children, now grown, feel as President Bush does, and I say they are wrong.

J.C.,

Yorktown

A: Sorry, mom, you're wrong.

According to Lisa Barmann, manager of media relations for the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association in Alexandria, broccoli's been marketed in this country since the 1920s, started on a large-scale basis by Italians in New York who grew and marketed the veggie.

Q: I would like to live in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and become a citizen. How do I go about doing so?

E.W.,

Hampton

A: Don't pack quite yet; you need immigration permission to start this ball rolling, says Ed Bethel, press attache for the Embassy of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in Washington, D.C. For information about getting permission, write Ministry of Employment and Immigration, The Clarence A. Bain Building, P.O. Box N3002, Thompson Boulevard, Nassau, Bahamas. You should indicate that citizenship is your goal.

You'll be asked to show proof that you're an American citizen with a sufficient amount of money to support yourself while there. If you'll need to work to make ends meet, you'll be required to get a work permit. To become a Bahamian, you'll need residency of five years.

Q: What is the protocol governing the proper hand on which to wear a wedding ring? I attended a meeting recently and one of the participant's had the ring on the right hand.

R.T.,

Newport News

A: According to "Emily Post's Ettiquette, a Guide to Modern Manners," in the United States, the left hand is the proper place for the wedding ring. In foreign countries, it would be the right hand. However, local custom and personal preference may disprove that rule of thumb.

For instance, Reggie Akdogan, owner of The Precious Gem in Williamsburg, hails from Turkey. In his country, he says men and women wear the ring on their right hand to signify they're engaged. After they tie the knot, they switch their rings to the left hand.

The Rev. Peter Makris of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Newport News says many people switch the ring to their left hand because wearing it on their right hand, their "work" hand, is impractical.

Q: What is the name of the cemetery you pass on Main Street, not far from the Jefferson Avenue intersection heading toward Hampton, near Sedgefield Elementary School?

K.N.K.,

Hampton

A: You are speaking of the Maney Family Cemetery originally owned by Stephen Maney dating back to the late 19th century. Along with Maney's property was a farmhouse, which came down around 1973 or 1974.

How do I know all this? Hyla Zelinsky, Newport News registrar from 1964 until her retirement in 1983, tipped me off to Carter Ficklen of Hampton, Maney's grandson. Ficklen provided these details. He adds that the Maney cemetery was one of several family cemeteries in the area.

Today, Maney Drive is across from the cemetery, off Main Street. The cemetery's been closed for a number of years; no others will be buried there.

Q: I have a 100 percent polyester skirt that I ironed with a too-hot iron. How can I remove bad scorch marks?

J.A.B.,

Susan

A: First of all, you may not have scorched the fabric itself. Mel Jacobs, operations manager for the Wellworth Cleaners chain, says sometimes residual soap from a garment that's been washed is what gets scorched and turns brown.

Provided the pressing didn't leave an actual iron imprint on the skirt, which would mean the fabric melted, you probably can remove the stains.

Jacobs says to use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide applied with an eye dropper over a period of two to three hours, applying a little more peroxide each time it dries.

What you're doing is bleaching out the scorch marks; if this is a colored garment, you need to know when enough's enough.

"It lifts the dye. The color will lighten," Jacobs says. Once you're finished, be sure to wash the skirt. Rinsing off the treated area is not enough because the peroxide will migrate.

Readers to the rescue: V.B.J of Newport News wants a metal sweater dryer/blocker - a frame with adjustable arms. She thinks the gadget probably went out of style when synthetics came into vogue.

If you've one of these things lurking around in your attic or know where to buy one, please drop me a line.